Bryce Harper the early favorite to win 2018 Home Run Derby

Batting average doesn’t matter at all when the only goal is to hit bombs. Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper might be struggling this season, but he’s still the favorite to win the 2018 T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

Harper will also have the benefit of home-field advantage. The Home Run Derby will take place at Nationals Park. He should be comfortable hitting there.

If there’s hope for the other contestants, it’s that Harper has never participated with the new bracket format. He could still carry over some of his past experience, but some aspects of this will be new to him as well.

Do Javier Báez, Alex Bregman and Kyle Schwarber have a chance to win the Home Run Derby?

Báez, Bregman and Schwarber aren’t getting as much love from the oddsmakers, but you shouldn’t count them out. Báez was known for his immense power in the minors and that has really carried over in 2018. Schwarber has always been known as a major power threat. Early scouting reports said Bregman had “average power,” but he’s proven those wrong this season by already mashing 19 home runs.

More importantly, though, the Home Run Derby isn’t all that predictable. There are many factors that can contribute to a player winning the whole thing. Harper and Aguilar might be the favorites, but it feels like anyone’s race.

Bryce Harper is the early favorite to win the 2018 Home Run Derby. (AP Photo)